Mario Kart 8

 Wii U
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2023 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,789 out of 2023
  2. Mixed: 86 out of 2023
  3. Negative: 148 out of 2023
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  1. serrano862004
    May 31, 2014
    10
    Best Mario Kart ever!!!! Game is nothing but fun. This is the reason that I bought a Wii U! If you have always been a fan this ga!e is for you, If you never played the game, Try it!!!!
  2. korncheto
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    El MK8 es excelente en todos los sentidos, el primer día lo jugué casi patológicamente al rededor de 14 horas que se fueron volando con los amigos.

    Solo tuve un problema de conexión en línea para jugar partidas que ya teniendo acceso a internet son increibles. Relato cómo solucionar el problema por si lo tienen. Lo que tienes que hacer es meterte a la pág. de tu modem y cambiar la    El MK8 es excelente en todos los sentidos, el primer día lo jugué casi patológicamente al rededor de 14 horas que se fueron volando con los amigos.

    Solo tuve un problema de conexión en línea para jugar partidas que ya teniendo acceso a internet son increibles. Relato cómo solucionar el problema por si lo tienen.

    Lo que tienes que hacer es meterte a la pág. de tu modem y cambiar la configuración del DMZ y a mí me entra ya siempre a internet, si tienes infinitum (México) llámales a los asesores y ellos te van diciendo cómo...
    juego de ★★★★★    … Expand
  3. flax0174
    May 30, 2014
    9
    The track design in this game is second to none, the virtual scenery is jaw dropping, just beautiful. there are tons of items to use which are well implemented, you can trump the blue shell attack, which thus adds more refinement and balance to the gameplay. the controls are smooth and responsive as they should be, the online is a hoot to play as well. the battle arenas are no longer,The track design in this game is second to none, the virtual scenery is jaw dropping, just beautiful. there are tons of items to use which are well implemented, you can trump the blue shell attack, which thus adds more refinement and balance to the gameplay. the controls are smooth and responsive as they should be, the online is a hoot to play as well. the battle arenas are no longer, nintendo has been lazy in my opinion and just used 8 tracks from the grand prix. you can change your kart as well with different well...karts, wheels, gliders to tweak your stats to your liking. The anti-gravity elements are in my opinion not emphasized enough in gameplay, say when go upside down your camera realigns with the track so it looks like your driving normally so it's more like a underlining concept to keep the series and action ticking. Overall though a stunning game, filled to the brim with pure charm and nostalgic joy.… Expand
  4. PolisKanin
    Jun 7, 2014
    10
    Fun enjoyable gameplay. This is my favourite Mario Kart yet (previously it was Mario Kart 64). The gameplay is enjoyable alone, but best played with friends or being competitive online. The only flaws are the poor roster (full of babies, metal mario and the aweful pink gold peach) and in battle mode you can only play on race courses rather than courses specifically designed for it likeFun enjoyable gameplay. This is my favourite Mario Kart yet (previously it was Mario Kart 64). The gameplay is enjoyable alone, but best played with friends or being competitive online. The only flaws are the poor roster (full of babies, metal mario and the aweful pink gold peach) and in battle mode you can only play on race courses rather than courses specifically designed for it like previous installments in the series. This leads to you driving around trying to find someone for the whole match, and when you do it's someone on your team, but you're so happy that you have found someone so you throw an item anyway, but it harms them as items aren't on team. However, battle mode isn't the main feature in Mario Kart, and the roster can be forgiven by the fact you can play as Mii, which have almost endless customization possibilities. I give Mario Kart 8 a 99/100… Expand
  5. posahh
    May 30, 2014
    9
    After 3 hours of playing i'm stunned. amazing tracks, nice new weapons and karts, 1080p / 60 fps what else do you need?! this game is must buy if you have wii u or even planning on buying it and promotion free game is always welcome
  6. VIOLADOR
    Jun 10, 2014
    10
    SUPER JUEGAZO, POR ESO LE DOY UN 10+, ADEMAS TIENE UNA JUGABILIDAD MARAVILLOSA QUE NO SE HABIA PRESENTADO EN ALGUN MARIO KART PASADO; ADEMAS SE NOTA UNA MEJORA EN LA MOVILIDAD DEL JUEGO EN RELACION A LA OPCION MULTIPLAYER ONLINE QUE TIENE
  7. Cairnexus
    Jun 11, 2014
    10
    After putting some extensive hours into this game I have decided to pop on to review this real quick. First off the fact this game is finally out is just a breath of fresh air. I thought for sure I was going to have to sell my Wii U but this game really turned it around for me. The game itself is standard Mario Kart, with a small twist "anti gravity" while this didn't really break anyAfter putting some extensive hours into this game I have decided to pop on to review this real quick. First off the fact this game is finally out is just a breath of fresh air. I thought for sure I was going to have to sell my Wii U but this game really turned it around for me. The game itself is standard Mario Kart, with a small twist "anti gravity" while this didn't really break any grounds for me it was a cool feature and was a lot better alternative then flying as they had in sonic racing. The drift system is pretty cool I wish they would have added a 3rd boost option for drifting vs the 2 stages that currently exist. I have unlocked just about anything the ghosts were not too difficult to beat it was more of a "showing you all possible paths in a given course". I still have not accomplished 3 stars on all 150 cc mirror events but have completed regular 150cc and the rubber banding can be pretty ridiculous at times, but RNG is RNG. The online play is smooth for me I have not seen much lag or any kind of frustrating mechanics beyond the normal MK8 experience. I'm still waiting to get the 10k coins to unlock the last item. Overall the game is great! Fun with friends or with strangers and even with some of the same annoying mechanics regarding the rubber band feature its definitely not as strict as it's previous Wii release.… Expand
  8. el_nobre3127
    Jun 4, 2014
    10
    A great, gorgeous game despite the forgettable battle mode. The visuals are bright, colourful but still bringing some realism to them. Mario kart 8 might have impressive visuals but it is much more than that: the actual racing is great, new items feel fresh and balanced and anti-gravity is great. This one is going to keep me busy for a long time because of all the unlocks. Hoping for newA great, gorgeous game despite the forgettable battle mode. The visuals are bright, colourful but still bringing some realism to them. Mario kart 8 might have impressive visuals but it is much more than that: the actual racing is great, new items feel fresh and balanced and anti-gravity is great. This one is going to keep me busy for a long time because of all the unlocks. Hoping for new Karts and tracks for DLC… Expand
  9. bleublimpgaming
    Jun 17, 2014
    9
    Probably one of the best Wii U games to date, the new maps are great and the graphics are crisp and clear. The controls are hard to master on the game pad at first but with about 5 races it fells like an instant classic.
  10. tybyrd93
    Jun 19, 2014
    10
    The best Mario Kart yet. Great tracks, beautiful graphics, attention to detail, great new ideas (such as antigravity). Nintendo has done it again. If there were a few extra characters in there besides the koopalings, it would be perfect.
  11. dmelendez34
    Jun 24, 2014
    9
    If battle mode was better, this game would get a 10 from me. Not having special battle mode areas was the worst idea Nintendo had. I would have preferred they simply reused the areas from past games at least than having players race around tracks.

    The tracks are great = the new ones are beautiful and creative and the old ones are touched up to make them more enjoyable. Online play    If battle mode was better, this game would get a 10 from me. Not having special battle mode areas was the worst idea Nintendo had. I would have preferred they simply reused the areas from past games at least than having players race around tracks.

    The tracks are great = the new ones are beautiful and creative and the old ones are touched up to make them more enjoyable.

    Online play is seamless and I hope more games use the online play system used for this game.

    If you have played Mario kart in the past, you wont be disappointed by this game...unless you are a huge battle mode lover.    … Expand
  12. KuramaJP
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    The reason i bought a Wii U and was not disappointed. Awesome. New times, weapons and characters add some much needed improvements needed after a very unsatisfying Wii release.
  13. London_Calling
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    Perhaps the ultimate multiplayer game. Brilliant graphics, brilliant track design, brilliant fun. The video replays of races (especially) against mates in slow motion is a joy to behold. Too good.
  14. SylarHRG
    Jun 29, 2014
    8
    It's good. Definitely fun, lots of what you are used to. Graphics are good, the tracks are fun, but really it's the same formula as before. For anyone new to this series, I could see it being a 10/10 game for them. For anyone used to this series, 8/10 is a respectable score. A little bit more innovation would be nice, but it is what it is, a mario kart game. They stuck to the formulaIt's good. Definitely fun, lots of what you are used to. Graphics are good, the tracks are fun, but really it's the same formula as before. For anyone new to this series, I could see it being a 10/10 game for them. For anyone used to this series, 8/10 is a respectable score. A little bit more innovation would be nice, but it is what it is, a mario kart game. They stuck to the formula that has worked since day 1 for them.… Expand
  15. Gotohellcadz
    Jun 16, 2014
    8
    A solid game offering a fantastic graphics and controls. It's only shortcoming come from the butchered battle mode and last lustre multiplayer features and awkward roster additions/changes. As while the multiplayer in it has evolved and lost the majority of it's networking issues what happened to the community system from mk7? It worked great and they had every opportunity to work on thatA solid game offering a fantastic graphics and controls. It's only shortcoming come from the butchered battle mode and last lustre multiplayer features and awkward roster additions/changes. As while the multiplayer in it has evolved and lost the majority of it's networking issues what happened to the community system from mk7? It worked great and they had every opportunity to work on that but instead we're left with a tournament feature which while it does work for setting up game tournaments it doesn't for managing your community of players for game nights on the clock. I did also have a few nit picks with the item system this time around as while I'm glad they nerfed blue shells into the ground item pickups across different race placings is broken (5th place gets a bullet bill, 8th get's a single banana) focusing more on defensive drops rather than mario kart's previous offense with the majority of drops being shells. My last issue is that they removed a lot of the fan classic characters and tracks. We only get one snes track (donut plains 3) which is terrible when considering the other snes tracks and the retro and new tracks as a whole don't have many standouts. But you probably know all the pros with the game, like amazing graphics tight control etc. If you own a wii u this is a must buy. And if you don't I strongly recommend keeping your eye on the wii u now for more great releases now that mk8's been released.… Expand
  16. Slsr
    Jun 3, 2014
    8
    It's a fun game, prefer it over Mario Kart 7. It has some things I'd like to be different though, like not being able to hold two items like in past and boring baby characters no one cares a one cent. Also I'd wish there be more difficult mode in single player for those really experienced in these games as I know people who beat 150 way too easily. Other than that it is really great game,It's a fun game, prefer it over Mario Kart 7. It has some things I'd like to be different though, like not being able to hold two items like in past and boring baby characters no one cares a one cent. Also I'd wish there be more difficult mode in single player for those really experienced in these games as I know people who beat 150 way too easily. Other than that it is really great game, would give it 9 but as I feel there hasn't been all that great improvement in this series for awhile I will give it only 8.… Expand
  17. Yankeee007
    Jul 4, 2014
    8
    Mario kart 8 brings new feature to the series such as anti-gravity and the gliding and underwater feature from mario kart 7 .the graphics are the best I've seen on wiiU and it's absolutely breathtaking it's gorgeous everything it's detailed ,the music it's perfect I love every theme , the downside if this game are that most of the characters are a waste of space the babies are useless andMario kart 8 brings new feature to the series such as anti-gravity and the gliding and underwater feature from mario kart 7 .the graphics are the best I've seen on wiiU and it's absolutely breathtaking it's gorgeous everything it's detailed ,the music it's perfect I love every theme , the downside if this game are that most of the characters are a waste of space the babies are useless and pink gold peach it's a terrible idea of a character ,same like in mario kart wii the items are unbalanced and it's just by luck , you can now get hit in mid-air which it's frustrating and some characters are overpowered such as metal mario and waluigi .overall mario kart 8 is the best mario kart game since mario kart 64 and the tracks are well designed and beautiful the online it's amazing and now you can defend yourself against the blue shell , so buy it now… Expand
  18. PissedOffWookie
    Jul 12, 2014
    9
    This game could've deserved a full 10 if it had at least an actual battle mode with arenas intended for it. Because it doesn't, it really doesn't deserve more than a 9. Lazy developers.
  19. DestinationMarc
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    I really enjoyed this game! Now, it does have its issues, but first, what's good about it; the controls are nearly similar to Mario Kart Wii, and while I was worried about this, the underwater/parasail segments from Mario Kart 7 were actually easilly controllable. The visuals? Amazing. It is SO enjoyable playing a Mario Kart game in beautiful HD! The new items were cool, though II really enjoyed this game! Now, it does have its issues, but first, what's good about it; the controls are nearly similar to Mario Kart Wii, and while I was worried about this, the underwater/parasail segments from Mario Kart 7 were actually easilly controllable. The visuals? Amazing. It is SO enjoyable playing a Mario Kart game in beautiful HD! The new items were cool, though I personally find the fireball item a bit useless; maybe it's just me, but unless you have good aim or just get lucky, it's pretty difficult to hit opponents with it. The new levels are just GLORIOUS; Electrodrome is my personal favorite track! I'd also like to mention that the online functionality is WAY more improved from MKWii's; I love the tournament option personally! The anti-gravity is a cool feature, but honestly, though not to this degree, I've seen the concept before in another racing game, Crash Nitro Kart, sideways tires and all! Now, on to the bad; first and foremost, the battle mode. Everyone's said this already, and my opinion's no exception, but I think it was a bad idea to implement actual racetracks as battle courses instead of arenas. Secondly, when you're first place in a race, you'll usually get coins as items, which can be real frustrating, especially when you're trying to defend yourself. Also, Rainbow Road? Not exactly a challenge, which is considered a nitpick, but c'mon; everyone knows Rainbow Road is the craziest course in any Mario Kart game! So, all-in-all, while I'd like to give this game a 10, personally, those major issues do hold the game back a bit. But regardless, this game is pretty neat, so if you have a Wii U, definitely get it!… Expand
  20. Rahsmoove
    Jul 24, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very great game. Normally I don't play Wii u games, but Mario's done it again. Customizable karts. From changing the wheels, switching up your parachute, to getting unique karts. They really raised the bar. If you think Mario Kart Wii raised the bar, buy a Wii U and experience the best Mario Kart there is.… Expand
  21. Pandamonium
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    I really enjoyed this game it is my favourite game from the Mario Kart series and now that they have included an item the can counter that damn blue shell it is a lot more and fast paced...when your not playing 50cc But it is another Nintendo game that will test your friendship especially if you just make it first and then that damn blue shell icon appears but other then that so much funI really enjoyed this game it is my favourite game from the Mario Kart series and now that they have included an item the can counter that damn blue shell it is a lot more and fast paced...when your not playing 50cc But it is another Nintendo game that will test your friendship especially if you just make it first and then that damn blue shell icon appears but other then that so much fun and the characters and kart designs are just brilliant.… Expand
  22. muah_ha_ha
    Jun 4, 2014
    10
    Mario Kart 8 is simply fun. The new anti gravity feature is beautifully inserted into the old tracks and the game is friarly challenging (especially the online gameplay which is really fun). The gameplay itself runs smoothly along with the HD graphics. The tracks and characters are very charming. Very recommended.
  23. cwepahguy225
    Jul 5, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is awesome. The course design is great and creative. The character roster is the biggest yet, and has the Koopalings as playable characters (for the first time ever). However, there are too many baby characters (and what about Birdo, Diddy, Hammer Bro, and Dry Bones)? Even though anti gravity doesnt bring any massive changes, it's still fun and I love it. It was like "the glueMario Kart 8 is awesome. The course design is great and creative. The character roster is the biggest yet, and has the Koopalings as playable characters (for the first time ever). However, there are too many baby characters (and what about Birdo, Diddy, Hammer Bro, and Dry Bones)? Even though anti gravity doesnt bring any massive changes, it's still fun and I love it. It was like "the glue that connected hang gliding and underwater racing". Gamexplain said that. The tracks are incredibly detailed, making the game more like the real world. The music and graphics are both stunning. The game does have some cons though. You can't carry a backup item anymore, which sucks. Also, first place gets less items. The big downside is battle mode. Battle mode is ruined. It uses slightly modified courses instead of arenas. Also, the cpus are way too good, there aim w/ green shells is perfect. They need to be nerfed. The online play runs smoothly and is very fun. Summary: Mario Kart 8 is a fantastic, mind blowing game with great graphics, great gameplay and a great soundtrack. It has highly noticeable flaws, but it's still the best game in the series.… Expand
  24. masterlinkace
    Jul 7, 2014
    9
    This game is tons of fun, great for single player, multiplayer or online! the one and only issue I have with this game is they ruined battle mode...however when it comes to the racing, it's the best Mario Kart to date.
  25. GodOFGamers72
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    This Game is just a masterpiece for Wii U owners everywhere and is a must Buy. My only problem is when you are battleing somebody it just seems very broken and out of place in the Game that needs to get fixed but for that it's still a must buy!!! 9/10
  26. emersonrwt
    Aug 6, 2014
    10
    Here we have a great example about how NINTENDO reach the top quality since foundation. Environment carefully drawn on each level, charismatic characters, calibrated controls, and unlimited fun.
    Only people without sense like to give to classic games like this a lower score just because they are fanboys...
  27. Zeldafan19
    Aug 16, 2014
    10
    Nintendo puts out their best Mario kart experience yet with Mario Kart 8. The graphics are stunning, the music is awesome, and the game has so much content. Online is as smooth as ever, and you can even set up tournaments. This is one of the best Wii u games to date, and anyone who loves Mario kart should buy this. Buy a Wii u just for this amazing game.
  28. foxmccloud
    Aug 24, 2014
    8
    Mario Kart 8 has never looked better in HD. The graphics in gameplay are really fun. But the main feature was the anti-gravity which made your car drive upside down. it was cool but not mind-blowing. I enjoyed the new items such as the Boomerang, Piranha Plant, and Horn. Another feature is Mario Kart TV which just lets you replay your Mario Kart races and lets you upload them to MiiverseMario Kart 8 has never looked better in HD. The graphics in gameplay are really fun. But the main feature was the anti-gravity which made your car drive upside down. it was cool but not mind-blowing. I enjoyed the new items such as the Boomerang, Piranha Plant, and Horn. Another feature is Mario Kart TV which just lets you replay your Mario Kart races and lets you upload them to Miiverse or YouTube. The thing I hated the most was battle mode. Its ruined. Instead of racing in an arena, you race on full racing tracks which really sucks. Mario Kart 8 is still a great racing title and you should definitely buy it now.… Expand
  29. DreamcastUser
    Oct 19, 2014
    9
    One of the best Mario Karts to date. The artstyle is gorgeous, I love Rosalina and the kooplings being added to the roster, and lots of cool new carts. However best of all is the DLC Finally we can race Link in Mario Kart.
  30. destinydoessuck
    Sep 9, 2014
    10
    Mario Kart 8 is the game WII U owners deserve, after the WII U'S bad start, mediocre 3rd party ports and long droughts it's amazing that one game can make everything right. The graphics are top notch and are on par with most released PS4 games. The game play is fun and addictive. There's excellent variety of tracks, vehicles, characters and customization. The online mode offers greatMario Kart 8 is the game WII U owners deserve, after the WII U'S bad start, mediocre 3rd party ports and long droughts it's amazing that one game can make everything right. The graphics are top notch and are on par with most released PS4 games. The game play is fun and addictive. There's excellent variety of tracks, vehicles, characters and customization. The online mode offers great competition and excellent replay value. Now for the downside, some tracks look muggy and there's an unnecessary use of the anti gravity in some tracks. The online mode lacks voice chat during the race, I would've enjoyed vocally taunting some players. The online mode does suffer from lag depending on the region you play in. Overall the game is the best game so far in 2014, PURE NINTENDO MAGIC… Expand
  31. frogvsmosquito
    Sep 12, 2014
    9
    Before I got Mario Kart 8, the only experience i had with Mario Kart was playing it on my friend's DS. And that previous experience was positive. This, however, is even better. It's all I remember from the DS game and a lot more.
    The first thing you'll notice when you start racing is the antigravity. Antigravity sections work differently than the others. Colliding into your opponents    Before I got Mario Kart 8, the only experience i had with Mario Kart was playing it on my friend's DS. And that previous experience was positive. This, however, is even better. It's all I remember from the DS game and a lot more.
    The first thing you'll notice when you start racing is the antigravity. Antigravity sections work differently than the others. Colliding into your opponents would normally be a bad idea, but in antigravity when you collide into an opponent, you'll both get a little speed boost, so use it wisely to get ahead!
    The game has 32 tracks (16 new and 16 retro). Tracks have so much variety. On one track you'll find yourself in a world made out of sweets, on the other you'll be racing through pipes avoiding Piranha Plants, on the other one you'll be on a big floating track above the city, you name it! And with the new DLC coming, which will add 16 more tracks, expect to be racing through Hyrule!
    Online multiplayer is one of the best I've seen. Didn't. Crash. Once. And the feeling when you finish first, ahead of experts... it's so satisfying. You can also either participate in tournaments, or you can create your own for others to compete in. Rule settings are pretty detailed such as race class, time when tournament begins/ends, number of races... You can also bring a friend to play online with you in the same room! Oh the laughs, rages, ups and downs...
    The only thing I don't like is the battle mode. The goal is to pop other player's balloons. This time, instead of specially designed battle arenas, you'll be battling on one of the 8 selected tracks. It can take a while for someone to pass so you can pop the opponent's balloon. Or you can hide behind a rock or something and wait for some clueless Mushroom kingdom resident to pass and pop his balloons. Hehehe...
    Overall, very good game that you should own if you have a Wii U.    … Expand
  32. Forbod
    Sep 22, 2014
    5
    While i'm a huge fan of most Nintendo games I have to say that Mariokart 8 was a bit of a let down. Don't let the massive hype and undying fan-dom of people fool you into thinking that all Nintendo games are super fantastic perfect games. While Mariokart 8 sported great graphics and fun gameplay. It did however lack in the character department sporting many unpopular Bowser spawns andWhile i'm a huge fan of most Nintendo games I have to say that Mariokart 8 was a bit of a let down. Don't let the massive hype and undying fan-dom of people fool you into thinking that all Nintendo games are super fantastic perfect games. While Mariokart 8 sported great graphics and fun gameplay. It did however lack in the character department sporting many unpopular Bowser spawns and baby versions of characters. But what really destroyed my love for this game is the realization that the game purposefully punishes winners and rewards losers during a race via the power up system. Whereas if you are holding 1st place you have a 90% chance of receiving just coins (Even if you have your max 10/10 coins) from the power-up cubes and a 0% chance of getting any strong power ups. The best you may receive is a single mushroom boost or a green shell but those are very very rare. This leaves anyone trying to hold 1st at a huge disadvantage and completely defenseless and usually easily beat at the last stretch of the race unless the person in 1st is a extremely far ahead.

    All and all I kinda regret paying 60 bucks for this game and the only real fun i get from is it playing with friends locally.    … Expand
  33. youlouz
    Jan 19, 2015
    10
    Pros
    -Outstanding Graphics
    -Memorable throwbacks
    -Fun powerups
    -Nice steering

    Cons
    -No story to it

    This is the best racing game that I have ever played.
  34. Mariofan
    Feb 7, 2015
    8
    Mario Kart 8 is one of those games that you should get a Wii U for. It is a great game. The graphics are so good. The gameplay is awesome. The character selection isn't that great. The track selection is the best. Mario Kart 8 is awesome and is definitely worth buying. Would've got a 9 if the battle mode didn't suck.
  35. imoses
    Jan 26, 2015
    9
    Bought this game in June 2014, I'm still playing in January 2015! The best Mario Kart game on home consoles!

    Pros:
    + Online Multiplayer!!!!
    + Great tracks
    + New anti-gravity adds variety
    + DLC is excellent and reasonably priced

    Cons:
    - Battle mode
    - too many baby characters
  36. BeanTheDuck
    Jun 4, 2015
    5
    The same old Mario Kart is here with almost nothing new and it is more boring than ever but is pretty to look at because of the HD. I would recommend the DS and 3DS game over this WIIU title.
  37. iandizion713
    Jun 6, 2015
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is one of the best Mario Kart games to date. Not only that, its also one of the best ever racing games. The gem has it all, you can get lost in the single player and race in the circuits, or you can race 2 player on TV and Gamepad. The online mode is epic and the connection quality is outstanding. This is a racing game that lasts a generation.
  38. pxsh
    Aug 21, 2015
    7
    Great game overall, fantastic singleplayer experience, run in smooth 60 fps which is a major upgrade from the older series. Lots of tracks and a decent AI that does not seem to cheat too much, as the old MK games did. The Game lacks a proper Battle mode and it's a shame and disgrace towards all fans of the series to skip this in favor for a"new and innovative" battle mode, whichGreat game overall, fantastic singleplayer experience, run in smooth 60 fps which is a major upgrade from the older series. Lots of tracks and a decent AI that does not seem to cheat too much, as the old MK games did. The Game lacks a proper Battle mode and it's a shame and disgrace towards all fans of the series to skip this in favor for a"new and innovative" battle mode, which demonstrably have been proven quite boring by too many players, including me. A question for Nintendo, where is the classic battle map DLC or any hints regarding a possibility ? The 7 out of 10 score from me is due to the great singleplayer experience. Don't buy this and expect some great multiplayer experience like in the former games in the series.… Expand
  39. MEFzelder
    May 9, 2016
    9
    Desde "Mario Kart 64" no encontraba un juego de carreras que me atrapara tanto, esta nueva versión tiene una manejo muy suave y responsable que hace que sea fácil de aprender y dominar, sin mencionar el detalle puesto en cada pista haciendo que cada escenario sea entretenido y vistoso.
    "Mario Kart 8" es uno de los juegos que mejor cumplió en cuanto a ejecución, a pesar de que la Wii U no    Desde "Mario Kart 64" no encontraba un juego de carreras que me atrapara tanto, esta nueva versión tiene una manejo muy suave y responsable que hace que sea fácil de aprender y dominar, sin mencionar el detalle puesto en cada pista haciendo que cada escenario sea entretenido y vistoso.
    "Mario Kart 8" es uno de los juegos que mejor cumplió en cuanto a ejecución, a pesar de que la Wii U no sea tan potente como sus rivales generacionales el juego se reproduce en unos fluidos 60 frames por segundo, y solo se reduce a 40 cuando son 4 las personas que estan jugando en simultaneo. El juego utiliza la fórmula de siempre carrera de kartings con items con diferentes funciones que hacen que la carrera sea competitiva y cambiante en cada momento, con la incorporación de 32 pistas, de las cuales 16 son remakes de pistas de versiones anteriores.
    Uno de los puntos fuertes de esta versión es la diversidad para construir tu competidor ideal, no solo puedes balancear el vehículo a tu gusto sino que se agregaron dos pesos a los tradicionales corredores livianos, medios y pesados, sumando peso pluma y muy pesados. Otra mecánica es la secciones de 0 gravedad donde el vehículo anda de cabeza pero debido a que la cámara te sigue siempre detrás y con la misma perspectiva no me produce ninguna diferencia con ir sobre tierra.
    El punto más débil del juego es el modo batalla, debido a que no hay niveles planeados para este modo, se reutilizan las pistas de carreras generando situaciones muy aburridas para atacarte con items porque es muy difícil coincidir con tus rivales, este modo es totalmente olvidable.
    A pesar de lo malo del modo batalla este juego es un "Must have", es de lo mejor en cuanto a jugabilidad y gráficamente, ideal para competir en línea o local con amigos.    … Expand
  40. Rokai
    May 30, 2014
    10
    It's exactly what you'd expect from a Mario Kart game, and more. New courses, new characters, some new items and improved online. The replay system is a great addition too. Don't expect the game to change gaming forever, but you simply can't not have fun playing this game.
  41. TheVJ
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    I simply have to give this game a 10/10. It improves upon everything compared to all past Mario Kart entries. It's a superb experience, it's fluid, the controls are very solid and online racing is more fun than it has ever been. Probably the best WiiU game right now, do yourself a favor and get this!
  42. ekolite82
    May 31, 2014
    10
    I've never had so much intense fun with a racing game in my life! Very easy on the eyes and tantalizing at that. Sound effects are there and the music, but as good as everything is in the game, I think the sound is it's weakest link. No biggie. The new tracks are wonderful and a nice careful selection of remastered tracks. Worth buying a new Wii U for? You bet your last pair of cleanI've never had so much intense fun with a racing game in my life! Very easy on the eyes and tantalizing at that. Sound effects are there and the music, but as good as everything is in the game, I think the sound is it's weakest link. No biggie. The new tracks are wonderful and a nice careful selection of remastered tracks. Worth buying a new Wii U for? You bet your last pair of clean socks it is!!… Expand
  43. dawidwawa
    May 30, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Super. Najlepsza gra w jaką ostatnio grałem. Dużo postaci i pojazdów, cudowna oprawa muzyczna ;-) Tz "gameplay i fun" w tej grze to po prostu majstersztyk!!! Trasy wyglądają obłędnie, online do 12 graczy, dzielony ekranik przy 2 playerach,60 Fps, warto dodać, że to pierwsza odsłona serii w HD i naprawdę wygląda cudnie, zresztą plusy tej gry można by jeszcze długo wymieniać. Naprawdę polecam i zachęcam do kupna. Nintendo pokazało magie po raz kolejny.… Expand
  44. Mikeylano
    Jun 2, 2014
    7
    Most reviews fail to point out any of MK8's flaws. I shall attempt to do so. Nevertheless, I bought the Wii U specifically for this game and I am glad I did. It is a masterpiece, but it is not perfect.

    Everything is great, except for: - Ability to hold a weapon in reserve: Now you can only hold one item at a time. You cannot hold, for example, a banana behind you for defence whilst    Most reviews fail to point out any of MK8's flaws. I shall attempt to do so. Nevertheless, I bought the Wii U specifically for this game and I am glad I did. It is a masterpiece, but it is not perfect.

    Everything is great, except for:

    - Ability to hold a weapon in reserve: Now you can only hold one item at a time. You cannot hold, for example, a banana behind you for defence whilst hitting an item box to get something else in reserve. This feature was removed unnecessarily. Now, if you are in 1st, you simply hold on to whatever defensive item you get, rather than attempting to sabotage 2nd place (in fear that you may get a coin). This makes the game significantly less tactical.

    - No on-screen map: whilst there is a map on the game pad, it is not as practical as having one at a glance on the television screen. It also makes playing with a Pro Controller more difficult. Checking whether and who is fast approaching is now not as easy unless you pause the game, lift the pad up and try to retain concentration or use the rear view mirror, which may only give you a brief snapshot of what is going on behind. This pales in usefulness to a full map which shows you the precise location of everyone (including those ahead) in an instant.

    - No quick way to compare vehicles and parts: There should be a compare button that allows you to select one vehicle/part and track the bars of others against it. The only practical way to compare is looking up an online table.

    - Online track voting: no longer can you select any of the tracks. You are given a selection of four tracks, or can simply opt for any random course. This is a step backwards.

    - Awful battle mode: I am alarmed at how bad this is. There are no arenas - you just race around (a select few of) the normal tracks firing at each other. This is so bad that it makes you wonder whether the game was rushed.

    - No horizontal two-player split screen: the only available mode is vertical. This makes it very difficult to see around sharp corners in advance, and caters for the few times that the camera deviates slightly on the diagonal. Give players the option at least.

    - Character selection: too many babies and repeats. You can play as three types of Mario and Peach. The Koopalings are a nice addition but at the expense of great characters like Diddy Kong. Why is "Pink Gold Peach" more iconic than Diddy, Dixie or King Boo?

    - "View replay" is default selection after race: by default, "next race" should be selected, not view replay. This gets frustrating when you just want to get to the next race but through 20 years of habit press A only to be presented with the replay screen.

    - AI: unfortunately the AI seems to cheat quite a lot. Thankfully, now that online is the centrepiece, this does not matter so much. You can really tell the difference in challenge when you play against the AI and then online. The AI has faultless accuracy for items like green shells and the boomerang, and seems to get the perfect item to ruin your race at just the right time. Expect bloopers on the last section of Grumble Volcano and blue shells in the last 20 seconds of a race when you are winning (this usually happens at least once every grand prix).

    - Weapon distribution: Weapons from 1st to 6th place are invariably on the weak side. Mushrooms, coins and single bananas/shells are very common. Things only get interesting in the lower half of the pack, unless you race on frantic mode. In past MK games, 3rd place and below usually netted you something more powerful, such as triple red shells. However, even at the back of the pack, it is still entirely possible to get weak items, whilst those in the middle get high powered ones. This is very bizarre.

    -Effect of coins: I think the return of coins is a great idea, but they are so important that driving skill is less important than whether you have 10 coins or not. The problem is that when you get hit or fall off, you lose three coins. This means that people in the middle of the pack are less likely to ever catch up with first place because they are constantly battling it out between each other and slowing each other down. In my experience, most races have one person far out in front and an explosive pack of people in 3rd - 10th that is anyone's game.

    - Retro track selection. Personally I think there are too many tracks from the handheld games, although all of them are done well. However, I think Toad's Turnpike should NOT have included anti gravity elements, because this means that the main focus of the track - bustling amongst the traffic - is lost.

    This may seem like a lot of criticism, but overall it still means that MK8 is a great game. All the tracks are enjoyable to play (although I don't think any of them are spectacular), the music is great and the racing itself is very smooth. The way the blue shell works (back to N64 days) is very welcome. No doubt I will be playing it for many years to come, hopefully with patches.    … Expand
  45. emwick81
    Jun 27, 2014
    6
    Mario Kart 8 would have been much more enjoyable had it allowed arenas for battle mode. I long for the battle mode days of the SNES. It is nearly impossible to track down one's opponents in the race track battle mode environment of Mario Kart 8. Nintendo, please correct this!! Otherwise, this will be the last Mario Kart that I buy. Thanks for your consideration.
  46. Celever
    Jun 8, 2014
    6
    In a game series such as Mario Kart, breaking the bar and delivering a truly fantastic addition to the series is far more difficult than one would first think. Mario Kart 8 is overall a great game and is a lot of fun to play, however there are several design choices which I highly disagree with. The most noticeable is, of course, there being no map on your television screen. Looking downIn a game series such as Mario Kart, breaking the bar and delivering a truly fantastic addition to the series is far more difficult than one would first think. Mario Kart 8 is overall a great game and is a lot of fun to play, however there are several design choices which I highly disagree with. The most noticeable is, of course, there being no map on your television screen. Looking down to your gamepad for a map is also very detrimental to your race, and having to do so will hinder more than help. This was especially noticeable in battle mode, where a map is more necessary than ever as you try to navigate full-sized tracks in order to find another player.
    Another less noticeable design choice was that after a race in a Grand Prix or Versus race cup, you cannot merely mash the "A" or "2" button to move on to the next course. This is because they placed "View Highlight Reel" above "Next Race" or "View Results" in the menu, which has made me have to view the replays unnecessarily. Especially because, let's be honest here, very few people view replays of their races. This leads on to another complaint I have; it feels as if the development team hasn't tried to refine the game properly, and spent their time on unnecessary features such as Mario Kart TV, which is essentially a primeval version of the "Mario Kart Channel" we saw back in 2007 for Mario Kart Wii. A couple of noticeable cases of not refining the game properly is the lack of a stopwatch, and having the scores added or subtracted to your ratings disappearing after a short amount of time.
    The game is also unfortunately easy. The whole point of Mario Kart is to be hectic, exciting and a fun multi-player experience. This game seems to be more like a generic racing game the likes you would find on other consoles. The Special Cup had me falling off of it a total of 2 times my first time playing this game (which was 150cc) when I truly didn't know the tracks. Both "Rainbow Road" tracks have too many walls for a finale, and other, actually quite hectic tracks such as Cloudtop Cruise or even the very first Mario Kart Stadium are pretty much lined with walls the whole way through. However, one of those examples is from the Mushroom Cup and the other from the Special Cup. This game has no difficulty curve! This is especially apparent when DK Jungle, from Mario Kart 7's Special Cup, appears in the Banana Cup of all things. Arguably the hardest new track in the game, Mount Wario, is in the Star Cup, not the Special... I could go on.
    However, one must give credit where credit is due. It is likely that all of the retro tracks have had to have been made from scratch, as many redesigned parts have been placed in the tracks, along with all textures now being HD. Unfortunately, I prefer the retro tracks to the new tracks almost unanimously, but there are a few new courses which I think are going to be all-time favourites for me, such as Cloud Top Cruise. The Anti-Gravity is an incredibly fun feature, and it seems quite chaotic whilst driving through them in a pack. However, there are times where it seems quite tacked on (such as in Wario Stadium). In a franchise like Mario Kart, you have such high expectations to have to try and live up to it is no wonder this game isn't quite as good as others in the series. However, this is the worst game in the franchise, but it is still quite close.
    However, this doesn't stop it being an incredibly fun game, and while it doesn't appeal to me, I'm sure it appeals to many other players. It looks gorgeous, as has been stated repeatedly over the Internet, but graphics alone don't make a game. Not once have I had a sudden urge to play Mario Kart 8 since buying the game. However, this is because the game doesn't appeal to me because what I see in a Mario Kart game is a short burst of fun-filled adrenaline with items and constant shifting of the places. What I see in Mario Kart 8 is a serious racing game the likes of the Dirt series featured on other consoles.

    In short, if you want a serious racing game, I would buy Dirt 3 and an Xbox 360 over the far more expensive Mario Kart 8 and Wii U. If you want a fun and hectic Mario Kart game, a Nintendo GameCube (or Wii!) and Mario Kart: Double Dash!! would be the better option for you, along with Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart Wii in that order. If you already have a Wii U, then Mario Kart 8 is a very worthwhile game to pick up in the shallow game library the system has.    … Expand
  47. Aayph
    Jun 3, 2014
    7
    I'm a bit disappointed by most of the reviews here, especially the 10 point reviews.
    Many praising for the good old Mario Kart in HD, the sales bringer for the Wii U.
    As hardcore Nintendo / Mario fan it seems you are not allowed anymore to note something negative, otherwise you might be a hater... But let us face it straight - As Hardcore Mario Kart gamer it's letting me down. Of    I'm a bit disappointed by most of the reviews here, especially the 10 point reviews.
    Many praising for the good old Mario Kart in HD, the sales bringer for the Wii U.
    As hardcore Nintendo / Mario fan it seems you are not allowed anymore to note something negative, otherwise you might be a hater...

    But let us face it straight - As Hardcore Mario Kart gamer it's letting me down.
    Of course the game has many good points and it's still an excellent game, but if you played Double Dash, or the Wii version and you played it really hardcore you will find many difference in the Balancing of the game which will annoy you.

    Lets start with the positive:
    -> Best Graphics in a Mario Kart game so far
    -> New Type of Vehicle, Quads
    -> You can build your vehicle as you like (comp. to Wii)
    -> Wonderful track design

    Points that are neutral, mostly depends on personal taste:
    -> New Items - There are good and bad additions
    -> Character Selection - Some nice characters have removed, some have been added
    -> Wheelies have been removed (comp. to Wii)
    -> Item rates depending on place have been greatly change, less different items for first places etc.
    -> Redesign of old tracks (+because it's not just a copy, -because they have become less interesting)

    Negative things:
    -> You can now only hold 1 items, removes strategy aspect from the game
    -> Tracks are easy to master, it requires not much skill anymore to drive good times
    -> Game became more luck based because of the new balancing

    For me the races do not feel that intense anymore as on the Wii, I've the feeling I've less control over what happens with me. It was always the case you could have a good or a bad phase, you could easily drop to the last place or with luck having a comeback and win the race from last place.
    In Mario Kart 8 it seems more usual that you drop a lot places, then gain a lot places again etc. the field is more tight together, but this does not mean it makes more interesting, it makes it just more annoying.

    In my opinion the game has become even more casual than it already was, so for people playing from time to time, families and Kids it's great. But for people who also wanted to drive for competition need to look for a new game.

    Actually subjective I would give it rather 4-5 Points, but from objective view it's more 7 - 7,5 points.

    I as Nintendo fan boy and Mario Lover hope the next game becomes more intense again, but Mario Kart has lost the status for me as 'must buy game'.

    - Former Mario Kart Wii player with a 9999 score    … Expand
  48. Jecht_342
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    The first thing you'll notice about this game is that it's beautiful. I've liked the look of past Mario Kart games, but this one is beyond compare. Even the remade maps from past systems look amazing. The second important thing about it is that they've made some new innovations, and they all work pretty well. Driving underwater and on walls and gliding are all fun mechanics that areThe first thing you'll notice about this game is that it's beautiful. I've liked the look of past Mario Kart games, but this one is beyond compare. Even the remade maps from past systems look amazing. The second important thing about it is that they've made some new innovations, and they all work pretty well. Driving underwater and on walls and gliding are all fun mechanics that are similar enough to fit in, but different enough to make the game seem fresh.
    Overall, I would say this is the best Mario Kart game I've ever played.    … Expand
  49. TaraDarveaux
    Jun 5, 2014
    10
    Most exciting Mario Kart game yet. New items are awesome, and maps are gorgeous. Even the online play is extremely improved. The only thing I thought was weird is that green shells seem easier to actually hit people with, maybe I'm just getting better at playing though. Oh, and when you fall off the track there isn't an obnoxious black screen that makes it seem like you just got put toMost exciting Mario Kart game yet. New items are awesome, and maps are gorgeous. Even the online play is extremely improved. The only thing I thought was weird is that green shells seem easier to actually hit people with, maybe I'm just getting better at playing though. Oh, and when you fall off the track there isn't an obnoxious black screen that makes it seem like you just got put to 12th place. You can also unlock things in multiplayer now, which I don't think used to be possible. I've been having so much fun with this game, even by myself!… Expand
  50. YakuzaSlayer432
    Jun 6, 2014
    10
    The game is super fun! I can't stop playing! It's worth all the time I have that's free! It's so fun and addictive!
    The game uses some mechanics from Sonic and SEGA Allstars Racing, like buying characters and stages from the shops. But for a fan of racing games or wanting a break from basic Mario games, then this or Super Mario Strikers is worth the money and game time! Keep up the work    The game is super fun! I can't stop playing! It's worth all the time I have that's free! It's so fun and addictive!
    The game uses some mechanics from Sonic and SEGA Allstars Racing, like buying characters and stages from the shops. But for a fan of racing games or wanting a break from basic Mario games, then this or Super Mario Strikers is worth the money and game time! Keep up the work and someday the Wii U will have a great legacy. Screw the Xbox One. I could care less on PS4. It may have quirks, but this game is worth buying and worth buying the Wii U! 10/10    … Expand
  51. 10squareben
    Jun 29, 2014
    9
    Highly enjoyable game with a massive single player game to play and an endless online one. Shame the battle mode is gimped, it would work better if it had arenas. Definite winner regardless GO AND BUY THIS GAME YOU DINGUS!
  52. Viltgance
    Oct 28, 2015
    9
    The best Mario Kart game to date, it would be a perfect 10 if it had proper battle mode arenas. The new tracks are extremely fun and well designed and also brings back some of your favorite retro tracks. It runs extremely well on the Wii U, single player or split screen. A definite must own.
  53. Rikkaiser
    Jun 11, 2014
    5
    Mario Kart 8 is a step backwards for the Mario Kart franchise. It's getting a lot of positive attention, as you would expect a Mario Kart game to get. I think people are beginning to disregard any flaws that a Mario Kart game may have now because of a delusion that all of these games are perfect. If this is your first time picking up a Mario Kart game, I would recommend Mario Kart Wii overMario Kart 8 is a step backwards for the Mario Kart franchise. It's getting a lot of positive attention, as you would expect a Mario Kart game to get. I think people are beginning to disregard any flaws that a Mario Kart game may have now because of a delusion that all of these games are perfect. If this is your first time picking up a Mario Kart game, I would recommend Mario Kart Wii over this game, if you already have a Wii or Wii U. So why don't I like Mario Kart 8? They changed things that didn't need to be changed. It felt like they took content out. They added things that didn't need to be added. And worst of all, it feels like it was lazy. I'll get the positive things out of the way now, because I'd like to put more emphasis on the negative aspects. The game is fun, as usual. The game is gorgeous, too. The graphics are very nice to look at, the music sounds pretty good. They added a Piranha Plant power-up, which I thought was a strong and good addition- it chomps every few seconds, giving you a small boost each time and grabbing/attacking anything on your screen (even the Blooper that sprays ink). They also added a Music Box power-up, which was an excellent addition because it sends out a shock wave around the user, flipping any nearby enemy drivers and destroying any incoming hostile projectiles (including the Blue Shell) or any bad things left on the road. It's a power-up that requires skill and timing, and there can never be enough of that. Online mode is pretty smooth, I've never lagged and I've never had any problems finding people or connecting. Bikes were also made more similar to karts, which, while it takes away some of the uniqueness of bikes, adds a bit more balance to the game. The game also lets you take on the Grand Prix with your friends, something that should have been added a long time ago. That's it for the good. Time for the bad. And there's a lot more of it. When I first started the game, the first thing I did was look up a list of specific prerequisites to unlock characters (sorry, I didn't feel like finding out for myself), and the characters themselves. When I found something to read, it told me that all the characters are unlocked in a random order. That's stupid. In Mario Kart Wii, there was the more difficult-to-get Dry Bowser, who seemed awesome. And you know how you unlock him? By getting a one star rating or higher on all the new 150cc cups. Not too difficult, but was definitely satisfying to complete that specific goal and have that character waiting for you as a reward. Dry Bowser is just my favorite example- there are plenty of other characters that were unlocked in many different unique and specific ways. Mario Kart 8, however, has the universal method of coming in 1st place in any cup, unlocking one character per gold trophy. So you can't just go for the characters you want by taking on specific challenges- you just play and hope the game gives you the character you want (if there are even any on MK8's roster). My experience works out perfectly for this review- the only character I wanted was the last one I unlocked. That was real nice. Oh, and yeah, I only cared about one- Rosalina. The rest of the roster was garbage. They used all 7 Koopaling bosses from the original Super Mario World. While I was amazed and happy at first, realizing that they put ALL SEVEN of them in the game ruined any kind of excitement and nostalgia I felt. That was a lazy choice. And in case there weren't enough babies, Baby Rosalina joined the fray! Because, you know, we need more of the same exact character. Metal Mario is kinda cool I guess. Lakitu is okay, I love Rosalina, and the heavy/metal versions of Mario and Peach were fine. But, in my opinion, the rest of the roster was lame and lazy. 2-player split screen was made worse. The screen is now divided with a vertical line instead of a horizontal one, making your vision of what you actually need to see worse. Battle Mode was butchered. This one was painful. Remember those fun, arena-like tracks where you could have balloon battles in a frenzy? They're gone. The new selection of courses to battle on are just a few of the actual racetracks from the game. This was one of the stupidest decisions they made. They added some power-ups that are horrible. There's a Coin as a power-up now. It gives you a barely noticeable speed boost and two coins. Useless. There's also a Boomerang, which is seemingly impossible to aim. The "8" is stupid too, because it consists of 7 mediocre power-ups and a Star. But you have hardly any control what order they're used in, so I just mash the button until I get the Star. If you hold a power-up behind/around you now, like a banana peel, it doesn't empty your item slot. This takes away strategy from the game. Finally, the new anti-gravity mechanic is practically unnoticeable. I'm sorry to end it so abruptly, and I had more to say, but I'm reaching the character limit. Mario Kart 8 is a disappointment to the franchise… Expand
  54. Hardycore
    May 31, 2014
    6
    Having read some of the reviews, I can't understand why people rate this game so high. Of course everyone has their own opinion, but I'm not that fond of it.

    Let's start with the good stuff. The game looks gorgeous. That, coming from someone who doesn't care about the graphics much, that means a lot. The soundtrack is nice too. It is very fitting. What this game is lacking, however,    Having read some of the reviews, I can't understand why people rate this game so high. Of course everyone has their own opinion, but I'm not that fond of it.

    Let's start with the good stuff.
    The game looks gorgeous. That, coming from someone who doesn't care about the graphics much, that means a lot. The soundtrack is nice too. It is very fitting.

    What this game is lacking, however, is skill to master it. It is a nice and very fun game for any casual gamer and even my friend who is really bad at games in general, liked it.

    But that's just it. It's easy and simple. There isn't much to be good at.

    I'm not saying it doesn't take skill at all. It matters where you drive and there are several ways to take shortcuts. There are also several ways to increase speed. However, most tricks, if not all, you'll learn your first day.

    The courses have gotten somewhat easier, the AI worse and items aren't as devastating as they used to be (which is a good thing). Having played mainly mario kart double dash, I have to say it has gotten worse instead of better. In double dash, you had to push enemies around and picking characters actually mattered. Each character had their own unique item, and that was certainly a very strong point.

    In mario kart 8, the characters don't matter besides the 3 (6) weight categories. They simply look different. There is a whole lot of characters to unlock and if they would have been different from one another, it certainly would have added more depth to the game. Sure, it's nice to play with your favorite character, but for someone who's less interested in the lay out and cares more about the gameplay, it isn't really worth unlocking them.

    A nice addition to the game is the option to build your own carts/bikes. Each part has their own stats, which is nice, but to me, the stats don't seem to matter much. Different bikes/cars don't require a unique way of driving, besides the difference between bikes and cars. The parts also often have the same stats, making it also visuals, pretty much.

    Cool about this game is that it has zero gravity. You can drive upside down and on the walls. I also like the flying parts. However, because of the way the camera always follows the car, you can't really see the difference between being upside down or not. The flying parts are cool, but what would have been really nice is if it was optional. Being able to turn your car into a kite at all times. It would allow all sorts of techniques to get past obstacles and would add much more depth.

    Something else I don't really like about this game is the lack of options. There is no option screen whatsoever. No way to turn down the music or change the controls. Also, using any controller other than the gamepad is somewhat buggy. Whenever you lay down your controller for a while, you can't pick it up and keep on playing. Instead, it suddenly goes to the gamepad, forcing to use that instead.

    The game is also rather short, because it's so easy. At 150 CC you finally get the feeling you have to do something, so you can finish the game the first day. Luckily you can play online, so the game becomes both more challenging and it extends the duration. It's just not something I enjoy, because it doesn't take much skill but a whole lot of luck.

    Overall:
    It's a very fun game. It's casual and relaxing and lots of fun with friends. But casual it is. It is in no way competitive. The game doesn't take much skill to master, but it is very dependent on items, meaning it is a very luck based game. In competitions, you try to avoid luck based factors as much as possible and in this game it can't be avoided, especially because the game doesn't have much else to offer.

    The graphics are great and the music is good too. The game plays like a charm and everyone can jump right in, without needing a lot of practise. You can play with all controllers (from gamepad to nunchuks), so everyone can use whatever they want.

    Overall I give this game a 6.5    … Expand
  55. GridironCJ
    Jun 12, 2014
    6
    Mario Kart 8 is a fun game, but it fails to take the series anywhere it hasn't been before and suffers from Nintendo's laziness in a few areas. Let's start off with the good. There are plenty of courses and a decent roster of characters to choose from. Nintendo added a little more depth by being able to choose your vehicle type, tires, and air peripheral. The game is colorful and looksMario Kart 8 is a fun game, but it fails to take the series anywhere it hasn't been before and suffers from Nintendo's laziness in a few areas. Let's start off with the good. There are plenty of courses and a decent roster of characters to choose from. Nintendo added a little more depth by being able to choose your vehicle type, tires, and air peripheral. The game is colorful and looks decent for a Nintendo game. Why am I saying decent a lot? I'm simply not very impressed overall with this game. The graphics, while decent for a Nintendo game, are still very lackluster. There are a lot of rough edges and the detail just isn't there. Then again, I have higher standards than the average gamer. Additionally, you can no longer carry more than one item at a time. This makes the game a little less strategic, which is unfortunate. The battle mode is probably the worst-executed part of the game. There aren't even specialized maps for battle. Nintendo literally took some of the race courses and made them battle courses. Online multiplayer is also very underwhelming, as you cannot fill and entire race with human opponents.

    Overall, Mario Kart 8 is a fun, but lacking game. It would be nice to see Nintendo try a little harder next time and not take the easy way out in so many areas.    … Expand
  56. ozorxoron
    Jun 9, 2014
    6
    This is an incredibly fun game don't get me wrong, if you enjoy doing the same thing over and over and over then this is the game for you, it's just it lacks any real content. Sure it has a lot of tracks, but 50% of those tracks are pulled from previous games, some of which are absolutely tedious and make me question who in their right mind decided to bring them back. The variety ofThis is an incredibly fun game don't get me wrong, if you enjoy doing the same thing over and over and over then this is the game for you, it's just it lacks any real content. Sure it has a lot of tracks, but 50% of those tracks are pulled from previous games, some of which are absolutely tedious and make me question who in their right mind decided to bring them back. The variety of characters is very poor, it's mainly an assortment of your usual Mario, Luigi and Peach and then the babified versions of those characters and even metal versions of Mario and Peach. The variety is sorely lacking with the characters, I have no idea why as there's a lot of characters to choose from in the Mario-verse.

    My biggest problem with this game comes from the lack of things to do, sure racing is fun for a few hours against the AI, then you realise over a decade later they still haven't fixed the AI to target anyone but you, so that spoils racing against the AI. The multiplayer is fun, sure, when you're not being disconnected from races. Even then it's just a matter of time before this games goes from amazing fun to tedium as you're just playing the same maps with the same vehicle over and over with nothing really changing.

    A fun game, but a lacking one.    … Expand
  57. hunttom420
    May 30, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very addicting! The graphics on a 1080p HDTV is simply amazing! A must have for any Wii U owner, by far the best game for the Wii U yet! I don't want to spoil the game so go out and buy it already! Have fun with your family, friends, or random internet gamers.… Expand
  58. Vanpire73
    Jun 6, 2014
    7
    Pretty fun, but it's still no Diddy Kong Racing. Having an answer for the blue shell is welcome and the HD graphics are an improvement, but at the end of the day it's essentially the same thing it's always been.
  59. ynotownemall
    Jun 1, 2014
    7
    I really wanted to love this game but as it is I only like it. It looks fantastic and has a good variety of tracks. The player roster leaves a little to be desired, there should be less babies and koopa kids and more of the other toons we all like (Samus).

    But when push comes to shove this is just the same Mario Kart game (that some of us have been playing since the SNES) with pretty    I really wanted to love this game but as it is I only like it. It looks fantastic and has a good variety of tracks. The player roster leaves a little to be desired, there should be less babies and koopa kids and more of the other toons we all like (Samus).

    But when push comes to shove this is just the same Mario Kart game (that some of us have been playing since the SNES) with pretty graphics.

    This is still a good game and any Mario Kart fan should pick it up, but it could have been great, Nintendo were simply to scared to take any real chances with it.    … Expand
  60. lordrichington
    Jun 4, 2014
    5
    As far as value goes, given that we got a free game with it - this game is worth it.

    This is only aimed at the veteran. Disregard and buy if you are new to MK. I give this game 5/10 because for all its colourful splendour - it was still boring me, an hour in. .. It just has really very little new to offer. Most of the additional things are cute but gimmicky stuff that will only    As far as value goes, given that we got a free game with it - this game is worth it.

    This is only aimed at the veteran. Disregard and buy if you are new to MK.

    I give this game 5/10 because for all its colourful splendour - it was still boring me, an hour in.

    .. It just has really very little new to offer. Most of the additional things are cute but gimmicky stuff that will only be used if you're stuck in the later places, looking for something to boost you back into contention. I don't begrudge that, but I know how to play the game so I just barely see that - and really, the longer you play the game, the less interest you have in the items.

    Sure, we get customisation of "parts" to karts - but at the end of the day, that just doesn't really have much impact.

    Tracks look nice, but are fairly easy and you're effectively vying for first place, during your first lap (there are no real surprises). Drive well, slide round corners, rinse and repeat. We've been here before.

    Who really cares whether we're underwater or hovering on jets? Either way, the aim is to slide around the corners with the EXACT SAME handling.

    My point is, there is no further effective changes to game play and really quite frustratingly there are no battle tracks, which means you're really basically reduced to doing the same thing you were doing on the previous game.

    It might sound like I'm trolling to give it 5/10, but it's the eighth game in this series and if you're a veteran, you can go buy a very lowly rated game and at least get an hour into it without being tired. I haven't played a single minute of mario kart in about 2 years, prior to playing this and it was instantly underwhelming.

    It's still ok at the price and current offer, but it's certainly a very mediocre effort by Nintendo - who have in the past really innovated - and with the state of this console, I really expected more. Give us race modes, give us battle arenas, give us handicap options, something!

    When you've played this game for a couple of hours, you will realise this game is iterative. There may be tons of gushing reviews at the moment, but that will wash away, soon enough.    … Expand
  61. Mando44646
    Jun 7, 2014
    9
    Fantastic, fun, creative, and finally a counter to the blue shell. Need I say more? I hope for DLC characters and new tracks, but this legitimizes owning a Wii U by itself. The roster is a bit of an let down with unimaginative choices like good Mario and Peach, too many babies, and 7 Koopalings. Overall, you need this if you own a Wii U. If you don't own a Wii U, go out now and buy the MK8Fantastic, fun, creative, and finally a counter to the blue shell. Need I say more? I hope for DLC characters and new tracks, but this legitimizes owning a Wii U by itself. The roster is a bit of an let down with unimaginative choices like good Mario and Peach, too many babies, and 7 Koopalings. Overall, you need this if you own a Wii U. If you don't own a Wii U, go out now and buy the MK8 console bundle.… Expand
  62. Wawacoffee89
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    It is literally the same title, same gameplay but somehow they out do themselves everytime. More Characters(like 30), same and new powerups, kart customization; down to the kart, wheels and glider; a coin collecting boost for more speed during that race, ohh and also they brought back old courses; remastered and polished; and brand new ones. I only bought the Wii U for same screenIt is literally the same title, same gameplay but somehow they out do themselves everytime. More Characters(like 30), same and new powerups, kart customization; down to the kart, wheels and glider; a coin collecting boost for more speed during that race, ohh and also they brought back old courses; remastered and polished; and brand new ones. I only bought the Wii U for same screen multiplayer games(since it doesnt really exist anymore) like Mario Kart and Super Smash. This game is awesome and a must buy for people who actaully own a Wii U.… Expand
  63. NeedleBanger
    Aug 28, 2014
    5
    Take a look at the number of positive reviews vs. negative ones for this game, that should give you a little microcosm of the ratio between idiots & people with brains in this world. I love that one moron: "GO OUT AND BUY A Wii U FOR THIS GAME". Good lord buddy, I bet you're required by law to wear a hockey helmet every time you walk to the corner store. This game SUCKS and will entertainTake a look at the number of positive reviews vs. negative ones for this game, that should give you a little microcosm of the ratio between idiots & people with brains in this world. I love that one moron: "GO OUT AND BUY A Wii U FOR THIS GAME". Good lord buddy, I bet you're required by law to wear a hockey helmet every time you walk to the corner store. This game SUCKS and will entertain somebody with brain cells for a week tops. Anybody who gave this game a score of 9 or higher has no clue what they're talking about. If you bought a Wii U I already feel sorry for you, and don't give Nintendo any more money until they finally deserve it (this isn't the time). This game is for 5 year olds, and stupid ones at that, who will never have a clue. It would suck to just be starting off in this world & thinking pure trash is good all the time. If this game is a 9/10 then KILL ME NOW!… Expand
  64. Edugreen
    Jun 6, 2014
    10
    Mario Kart 8 is perfect in every way. The graphics are marvelous, the tracks are fantastic, the online matches are insane, the items system is balanced, the Mario Kart TV is excellent. A masterpiece. Best game of my life beside "The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time".
  65. LuigiCuau
    Nov 24, 2014
    9
    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas 2 Senda arcoiris muy    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas
    2 Senda arcoiris muy pobre, se supone que debe ser la pista más difícil y más larga y es lo contrario muy corta y muy fácil
    3 personajes que no convencen, metal peach, baby rosalinda ¿quieren más ?

    De hay en fuera el juego es exelente    … Expand
  66. Ramon4567
    Jul 21, 2014
    4
    The item balance was done perfectly in Mario Kart 7, but now, luck is your best friend in this unfair sequel. Even when you play at your best, especially in online races, you will frequently acquire coins from item boxes. Another flaw is the character roster; where is Diddy Kong and Dry Bones? Instead of giving us these original characters (and more), we get five babies, two palette swaps,The item balance was done perfectly in Mario Kart 7, but now, luck is your best friend in this unfair sequel. Even when you play at your best, especially in online races, you will frequently acquire coins from item boxes. Another flaw is the character roster; where is Diddy Kong and Dry Bones? Instead of giving us these original characters (and more), we get five babies, two palette swaps, and the seven minions for Bowser. This is the worst list of characters yet, and it would have been nice to play as different colors of Yoshi and Toad. Finally, the Battle Mode is complete garbage now; you only have eight battle courses, and they are all race tracks. I'm pretty sure you get the idea. As for the good, it's not enough to revive this ridiculous game. The visuals are indeed the best, the controls are smooth, the music is mostly fantastic, but the amount of courses should have increased from 32 to about 50. What about the gameplay? Well, it is extremely simple, and it didn't change a whole lot. I wish Mario Kart 8 was more like it's hand-held predecessor, but with more content to boot. In its current state, you will be severely disappointed, so rent it before you buy it.… Expand
  67. DukeJon
    Jun 2, 2014
    6
    Same old same old. Too little has changed since the wii version. The anti-grav/flying parts are lifted straight from Sonic and Sega all stars racing transformed.
  68. MissFelixia
    May 15, 2015
    0
    this review is for online mainly since thats probably where you'll be the most for online its too unbalanced to even rate so the score is lowered once again. 0/10 for online. seriously a coin in last place? or a single mushroom? i've had worse dice rolls. it seemed to start balanced but i swear as the rank increases they decide to change that.
    for offline its a mediocre 6/10
    sorry but    this review is for online mainly since thats probably where you'll be the most for online its too unbalanced to even rate so the score is lowered once again. 0/10 for online. seriously a coin in last place? or a single mushroom? i've had worse dice rolls. it seemed to start balanced but i swear as the rank increases they decide to change that.
    for offline its a mediocre 6/10
    sorry but mediocre at best rather play the wii version more. the graphics and gameplay is amazing but you'll get frustrated at the addition of the stupid coin item. want bannana only mode well i guess the coin is a bannana now. want a franic powerful items game yet again the coin is a powerful item apparently same with bob-ombs only. the Ai in this is lame as soon as you realise you can pick the slowest car even on 150cc and destroy the ai. but again that and the coin ruin what could have been an amazing game. only thing worth getting it for is the time trial. as for online yeh its pretty fun up to about 5k points then the dice rolls will screw you over in 5th? heres a coin or in 5th heres 3 mushrooms while the person in front gets a bullet bill. items just seems messed up this game. battle arenas have gone and also small but noticable is podium finishes. i hope the next game is better than this. sorry but after many many bs unbalanced online matches the score is lowered. to a 2 from a 6 if you want online get sonic and sega all stars racing if you want a family experence get this. this is unbalanced to all hell and not even better than the wii version. the Ai is really bad in this also probably cause they dunno how to balance their game but for single player this is the worst mario kart game so far. get it preowned for the time trials thats all your gonna have fun with.    … Expand
  69. endn
    Jul 31, 2014
    6
    Worst Mario Kart. I appreciate the updated graphics, but the core gameplay is broken. Items are no fun to use because tracks are often too wide and splits into two or more paths that racers are too far apart. Not to mention you rarely get fun item if you are top 3. Battle mode is completely ruined.

    AI cheats too obviously. For example you can be #1 for 2 laps and everybody seems to    Worst Mario Kart. I appreciate the updated graphics, but the core gameplay is broken. Items are no fun to use because tracks are often too wide and splits into two or more paths that racers are too far apart. Not to mention you rarely get fun item if you are top 3. Battle mode is completely ruined.

    AI cheats too obviously. For example you can be #1 for 2 laps and everybody seems to catch up in the last lap. Unlockables are lackluster. Ugly kart design, either too serious or too childish looking. Very unspired. Too much focus on collecting coins. Too many bowser children.

    My wife and I loved Mario Kart since Super Nintendo. It's gotten worse over the years but there were always something interesting that kept us playing. This is the first Mario Kart that my wife actually quits before we complete 100cc. Said it felt like a chore.    … Expand
  70. ninja-jason51
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    The game is beautiful, its nice seeing Mario Kart in HD. The game play is basically the same but its a great formula that doesn't need much of a change. The anti-gravity is a neat feature. It has great tracks, and a lot of them. They have some remakes as well, my favorite being moo moo meadows. The battles are a little different I like them but I miss the large area maps and bomb bombThe game is beautiful, its nice seeing Mario Kart in HD. The game play is basically the same but its a great formula that doesn't need much of a change. The anti-gravity is a neat feature. It has great tracks, and a lot of them. They have some remakes as well, my favorite being moo moo meadows. The battles are a little different I like them but I miss the large area maps and bomb bomb battles. Hopefully they can add stuff in with updates in the future.

    I recommend buying a Wii U for this game, and Mario 3D world as well as sonic lost worlds. There are other good games but those are my top 3 favorite.    … Expand
  71. umafeo23
    May 31, 2014
    5
    Could have been better. They recycled the exact same elements from Mario Kart 7, 6, 5 and the ones before that. It's pretty much the exact same game with better graphics. I mean, I could understand that all Mario Karts were the same before because they were running on weak consoles that could not handle HD, but now, this console finally as the HD capability and can handle complex processesCould have been better. They recycled the exact same elements from Mario Kart 7, 6, 5 and the ones before that. It's pretty much the exact same game with better graphics. I mean, I could understand that all Mario Karts were the same before because they were running on weak consoles that could not handle HD, but now, this console finally as the HD capability and can handle complex processes that could have made the game incredible (such as the Twinkle-Vane process; makes games, especially RACING games, incredible and could only be handled by the Cell Processor and above). So yes, thanks Nintendo. Not just for giving me the same Mario Kart game every 2 years (is this CoD? same game every year), but for giving me REALLY high hopes. I am a die-hard Nintendo fan. I am ReflexionIntelectual and in my channel, already said this game disappointed me, but it's a lot more beautiful to express feelings with written words. Thank you for reading this and see ya next time!
    PS: It's funny how Nintendo fanboys are comparing this game and Watch Dogs. It's alright that you're a Nintendo fan (like me), but saying this is better than Watch Dogs? They're not even in the same genre and are COMPLETELY different games.    … Expand
  72. Mik87
    Jun 2, 2014
    10
    Gioco fantastico. Non è il Mario Kart definitivo a causa di alcuni difetti piccoli e meno piccoli (Battle Mode), ma è probabilmente il migliore della serie. Tracciati spettacolari, comparto audio-visivo da urlo, controlli eccellenti, ottimo online e divertimento praticamente infinito. Un must.
  73. forestmarie
    Jun 3, 2014
    5
    I'm not going to say Mario Kart 8 is the best Mario Kart ever. I'm also not going to say it's not. It is too early to tell but all I know is its the most fun I've had in years. And with online and future downloadable updates, the sky is the limit for this well made instant masterpiece.
  74. Ammar2000
    May 31, 2014
    10
    Honestly this is the best game on next gen ,until now at least, I have had no problems at all with its awesome levels ,more reliable on skill and maybe the best soundtrack ever and it is now even better than double dash and the n64 which makes it my favorite Mario kart of all time. Only one tiny problem is that the characters aren't that good, but THIS GAME IS AWESOME!!!!!!
  75. Hmongol
    Jun 17, 2014
    3
    This game was such a disappointment! They no longer have automatic and manual, for most people this is okay but for casual gamers like my wife and kids who do not know how to drift will not like it very long. Mario kart 7 introduce Automatic driving which was great because now my family can actually play on 150cc cup with me because it auto drifts for them. I do not know why they took outThis game was such a disappointment! They no longer have automatic and manual, for most people this is okay but for casual gamers like my wife and kids who do not know how to drift will not like it very long. Mario kart 7 introduce Automatic driving which was great because now my family can actually play on 150cc cup with me because it auto drifts for them. I do not know why they took out the feature but my family all quit after always coming in last. We went back to mario kart 7 so we can all play together… Expand
  76. jlplatten
    Jun 13, 2014
    0
    Where's the 8-Player LAN party? Double-Dash was the peak of Mario Kart greatness, because it allowed friends to all come together at one location, hook up 2 GameCubes with a TV each, and have loads of fun for hours on end.... The Mario Kart on Wii lost the most attractive feature, and playing by myself got boring real fast... When I heard Mario Kart on Wii U also didn't have this feature,Where's the 8-Player LAN party? Double-Dash was the peak of Mario Kart greatness, because it allowed friends to all come together at one location, hook up 2 GameCubes with a TV each, and have loads of fun for hours on end.... The Mario Kart on Wii lost the most attractive feature, and playing by myself got boring real fast... When I heard Mario Kart on Wii U also didn't have this feature, I decided to boycott the game. How can technology be advancing, yet simple networking features be stripped? No thanks to Mario Kart 8... a game that's meant to be enjoyed with friends is not fun playing by yourself on the couch. I'm not saying internet multiplayer shouldn't be there... I'm just saying a LAN option should be included. Is it really that hard to do?… Expand
  77. Wanderlei
    May 31, 2014
    10
    The best Mario Kart ever made! It has so much more depth than Mario Kart Wii. It is only slightly harder to pick up and play but it is a much much deeper game, it will take time to master all the intricacies in the course, cars, moves and characters to get to acquire top level of driving skill.

    Nintendo proves once again they are consistently the best world at making games.
  78. Broyax
    Mar 28, 2017
    0
    Cette licence est recyclée à l'infini, tellement recyclée que c'est devenu une usine à pneus rechapés, tellement niaise que c'est avec le premier Mario qu'est né le mot-combo "japo-niais". Avec ce nouveau Mario sur ses déplaçoirs Playskool, rien ne change, sauf l'apport de la HD (enfin, façon de parler...), ce qui est déjà une révolution pour Nintendo.

    C'est tellement bête que même les    Cette licence est recyclée à l'infini, tellement recyclée que c'est devenu une usine à pneus rechapés, tellement niaise que c'est avec le premier Mario qu'est né le mot-combo "japo-niais". Avec ce nouveau Mario sur ses déplaçoirs Playskool, rien ne change, sauf l'apport de la HD (enfin, façon de parler...), ce qui est déjà une révolution pour Nintendo.

    C'est tellement bête que même les mômes n'en veulent pas : ils veulent en effet jouer à GTA et écraser des gens en écoutant du rap, pas diriger des persos idiots dans des graphismes en 256 couleurs, des effets sonores de la fête à neuneu et une musique de cirque. Il est temps que Nintendo (qui s'enlise avec sa console premier âge déjà dépassée) pense à sa reconversion.    … Expand
  79. Pongdok
    Jul 1, 2014
    6
    My wife and I were extremely excited for this game. We tried to find one of the bundles, but ended up buying the game separately. No big deal. We got home and started playing it. The come-down was pretty hard.

    The good: - Looks great - Drives alright The Bad: - Boring character selection - Unnecessary Kart customization (go play gran turismo, or whatever...) - Tracks excessively    My wife and I were extremely excited for this game. We tried to find one of the bundles, but ended up buying the game separately. No big deal. We got home and started playing it. The come-down was pretty hard.

    The good:
    - Looks great
    - Drives alright

    The Bad:
    - Boring character selection
    - Unnecessary Kart customization (go play gran turismo, or whatever...)
    - Tracks excessively wide and devoid of interesting features (Anti-G doesn't appear to actually do anything.)
    - Can't pick up a second item while trailing the first or surrounded by the 3-shell shield
    - Track maps are on the game pad, for some reason. (I know you have a directive to use the game pad as much as possible to make it feel relevant, but busting the game isn't the best approach. Nobody should be looking down at the controller while trying to play a driving game.)

    The very, very, very bad...:
    - R.I.P. Battle Mode (Some people may not care, but this was an enormous disappointment for me.)

    o.O Look at all these 10/10 reviews from what I assume are Nintendo PR spammer accounts and people who have never played a proper Mario Kart game. (You have my eternal scorn and heartfelt pity, respectively.)

    While I appreciate whatever effort has been put into this, the focus is dreadfully wrong. Graphics and attempts at innovation are fine, but if you get the feel wrong, the fun just drains away and I want to go play another game. Use a variety of play testers next time, (ideally from as many demographics as you can get) and listen to what your old, die-hard fans tell you prior to release day.

    I would play Mario Kart (SNES), Mario Kart 64 and Mario Kart Double Dash before this.

    I feel like my key gripe is MK8's bafflingly idiotic iteration of battle mode. Balloon battles don't belong on the circuit tracks, and they certainly don't need a dozen computer-controlled characters driving around fouling everything up. If I wanted to fight computers, I'd go race. I feel like they were put in because of the lack of proper battle arenas. Even with a bunch of extra cannon(turtle shell?)-fodder racing around in circles the 'battle tracks' feel huge and empty. There is no complex strategy and no sense of exhilaration or anticipation as you might have experienced stalking each other around the Block Fort in MK 64. In MK8, you either chase an enemy or try to joust in the second or two between when you see him and when you pass each other. This new battle mode is unplayable garbage, not worthy of a top-tier Nintendo release. Seriously, whoever gave the O.K. for this needs to get out of the video game industry and go become an accountant or investment banker.

    If there is no patch to address some of these issues, then this was my last Mario Kart game. I'd feel completely cheated if it hadn't come with a download code for Pikmin 3.

    I am holding out hope that the new Smash Bros. won't be a dumpster fire like this drek. If that's rubbish, I'll probably just play the Project M mod for Brawl and retire Nintendo to nostalgia-town. They have the intellectual property and the talent, but they've lost the Soul.    … Expand
  80. icedchoffee
    Jun 5, 2014
    2
    this game needs soooo much fixing, dont get me wrong its a good game i completed all the cups already with atleast a 1 star rating but the items and karts are sooo dumb. first of all the kart parts have "stats" in which some have more speed than others and some may have more acceleration, but none of those stats come into effect. i play as morton (heavy) on the sport bike with azure rollerthis game needs soooo much fixing, dont get me wrong its a good game i completed all the cups already with atleast a 1 star rating but the items and karts are sooo dumb. first of all the kart parts have "stats" in which some have more speed than others and some may have more acceleration, but none of those stats come into effect. i play as morton (heavy) on the sport bike with azure roller tires and the bowser kite. the stats for that is (4.25 speed, 4.0 accel, 3.75 weight, 3.25 handling and 1.75 traction) that is a great balance of a high amount of speed and acceleration but noooooo in this game ive gotten passed by normally driving by mario, who is a medium player, with the Standard kart, standard tires and the super glider which has (3.75 speed, 2.5 accel, 3.75 weight, 3.25 handling and 3.75 traction) so nintendo is trying to go above and beyond with these features of customizable karts but you basically customize them for show since the stats dont apply to the game at all. Second, the items in this game suck, ive gotten a star in 2nd place, that really doesnt make any sense at all in my eyes, when you get hit by an item its almost like youre stunned for 15 seconds, ive been in first place slipped on a banana and was sent all the way back to 7th in a matter of seconds. in mario kart wii, which is the best mario kart, when you had a mushroom or a star it would give u a noticably big speed boost...... not in mario kart 8, there is probably a 2% speed boost tops when activating star power. mushrooms in this game barely add speed as well, ive had a golden mushroom before and was passed by a person getting a boost from drifting.......wtf is that crap. there really needs to be something changed with the items with how often you get a certain item, what places can and cant get certain items, faster and more powerful boosts with mushrooms or stars and even the bullet bill. the bullet bill is complete garbage in this game. if nintendo is going to implement kart stats they should at least make it balanced or just have the stats removed. in addition to that, the stats are completely unfair, heavy characters start off with a base stat of (4.75 speed which is already fast, 2.0 accel, 4.75 weight, 2.25 handling and 3.25 traction) with just a base stat of that is completely over powered. having a footrace on mario circuit with heavy against light, heavy would win because of the speed they have(light has a base stat of 2.25 speed). overalll this game is completely 100% broken from items to stats to stun from items.right now with my experience on this game i would give it a 2.5 out of 5 and im a great Nintendo fan, but they really messed up this game and its bad.… Expand
  81. SuperAttackGame
    Jun 4, 2014
    4
    This is, without a doubt, the biggest letdown in the Mario Kart series, a middle finger salute to the fans. Mario Kart 8 is a result of taking out everything that makes Mario Kart good, and leaves in the bad. Mario Kart 7 was pretty much the refined Mario Kart of the series, but that doesn't mean there was nothing to improve upon. They could have at least tried to make it on par with 7,This is, without a doubt, the biggest letdown in the Mario Kart series, a middle finger salute to the fans. Mario Kart 8 is a result of taking out everything that makes Mario Kart good, and leaves in the bad. Mario Kart 7 was pretty much the refined Mario Kart of the series, but that doesn't mean there was nothing to improve upon. They could have at least tried to make it on par with 7, but instead it was like they deliberately held back on this one. Were they trying to make sure there was enough to improve upon with Mario Kart 9? Because you don't do that. You don't try and make a sequel less than perfect so you can make the next sequel better. That's just a blatant, lazy excuse for money. To be a little more specific on why this game is bad - remember Mario Kart Wii, with its sloppy controls and rubber band AI? It's back in 8, maybe even worse this time around. How can they take such a step backwards? The stage design is also incredibly flat and uninspired, ironic given the anti-gravity feature, and that in itself is not utilised at all because I barely felt like I was going anit-gravity, and the stages are still flat.

    It's very upsetting to see Mario Kart, of all franchises, become a lifeless shell of what it once was. 8 is the unlucky number for Mario spin-off sequels, it seems. This is the Mario Party 8 of the series, proof that people are getting sick of the series. Mario Kart will no longer be the big party game hit it once was, because even the biggest Mario Kart fans will have little good to say about this slump in the series. If we're very lucky, by Mario Kart 9 they will realise what they did wrong with this one and win everyone back - but let's face it, that's not very likely. Go away, Mario Kart. We don't like you anymore.    … Expand
  82. CoreyintheHouse
    Nov 8, 2014
    0
    When I first played Mario Kart 8, I had very high expectations. However I was met with the most disgusting racing game ever to be assembled in human history. DO NOT BUY!! a waste of money. People should buy a real game, like Corey in the House for the nintendo DS
  83. velvetmeds
    Jun 30, 2014
    0
    boring. looks like a kid game, plays without any depth, poor graphics at last gen resolution. annoying soundtrack (better to mute). already played this game in the 90s...don't bother with it again.
  84. rodericrinehart
    Feb 7, 2015
    10
    One of my favorite game series of all time gets some amazing new twists and HD graphics, and keeps the tight controls and great multiplayer. This is a system seller if there ever was one.
  85. LBC
    May 31, 2014
    8
    A fantastic game that deserves every one of its accolades! I do have a few gripes though. I can't understand why Nintendo still insists on making retro courses. There are only 32 courses in the game, and half of them are regurgitated from old games. Why not have 24 new courses and 8 retro courses? Yes, they've been updated and retrofitted with all the latest features, but there's still anA fantastic game that deserves every one of its accolades! I do have a few gripes though. I can't understand why Nintendo still insists on making retro courses. There are only 32 courses in the game, and half of them are regurgitated from old games. Why not have 24 new courses and 8 retro courses? Yes, they've been updated and retrofitted with all the latest features, but there's still an inescapable sense of deja vu. I'm also baffled by all the "baby" characters, but I guess Mario Kart is the most logical series to feature them.

    Battle mode has been thoroughly re-worked, with disappointing results. Its more of an afterthought, really. I can't imagine you and your friends will spend too much time here.

    There are some nice balancing touches in MK8. You can now block the infamous blue shell with a new item. To balance this, Nintendo has taken away the ability to pick up a new item while holding one behind you (banana, shell, etc). You can also boost off of other players (or give them a boost) while using anti gravity. Its a neat little game mechanic that adds a risk / reward factor to the racing.

    Mario Kart 8 is an awesome game! However, as I've noted before, the Wii U library is still a barren wasteland when compared to PS4 and XB1. Don't rush out and buy a Wii U just for this game. You'll be sorely disappointed with your options once your through with Mario Kart 8.    … Expand
  86. WildFire15
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart remains the prime example of what Nintendo is capable of. To some, that means rehashing the same franchise (and usually fail to acknowledge Call of Dutys and Assassin's Creeds are far worse if you consider rehashes to be lots of sequels), but for Nintendo it means adding new mechanics and tweaking existing ones to perfection.
    Courses are well designed, items are better balanced    Mario Kart remains the prime example of what Nintendo is capable of. To some, that means rehashing the same franchise (and usually fail to acknowledge Call of Dutys and Assassin's Creeds are far worse if you consider rehashes to be lots of sequels), but for Nintendo it means adding new mechanics and tweaking existing ones to perfection.
    Courses are well designed, items are better balanced (even better so as you can't hoard a spare, not to mention the Blue Shell finally has a proper counter) and the general handling is perfect. Graphical and audio wise, it's a step ahead of even next-gen offerings, reminding once again that pure graphical horse power does not instantly make a game visual superior. Online is also well developed and smooth, though it would be nice if, when choosing tracks in random games you could choose from all of them rather then 3 randomly picked ones and a random option.
    MKTV's a neat additional feature as well, allowing you to upload automatically generated highlight reels of your races. There's little manual control beyond who gets focused on and what sort of content/length you want, but it's still a cool item to have.
    There are aspects that aren't perfect, of course. If you don't like Mario Kart then 8 isn't going to change your mind, the lack of actual battle arenas is disappointing and for some reason playable Miis all where helmets (so they may as well be anyone), but if you've been sat on the fence about the Wii U, now's the perfect time to get one for this game.    … Expand
  87. Velsuan
    Jun 19, 2014
    10
    What can I say? Absolutely fantastic game from start to finish! I'm an old fan of MKart! My 10 is a love affair... I don't pretend to be impartial here. Find the kid in yourself, and it will be it. Enjoy Nintendo games. They know how to keep the games in the masterpiece zone!
  88. X-fushion
    Sep 12, 2014
    7
    This game is overrated within the context of it own series, While Mario Kart 8 is a solid, fun and well designed (for the most part) it has some issues that put it away from "perfection". In the core Mario Kart 8 is great, the tracks are well designed and every single one has an unique charm, both visually and technically also you don't feel that the tracks are the same all of them hadThis game is overrated within the context of it own series, While Mario Kart 8 is a solid, fun and well designed (for the most part) it has some issues that put it away from "perfection". In the core Mario Kart 8 is great, the tracks are well designed and every single one has an unique charm, both visually and technically also you don't feel that the tracks are the same all of them had "personality", their own gimmicks and obstacles making them fun and challenging to play. Other welcome addition new vehicle customization the game, is kind of basic but works well, it suits your play style better and the vehicle classes (Kart ,bike, sport bike and ATV) bring balance to the game and more variety some vehicles like karts are better in straight line tracks while others like the sport bikes do better in sharp curves tracks, picking your vehicle is no longer a "it looks cool" fact it's about what vehicle suits you best and it brings more depth in the game. Also Drifting and mini turbo are nearly mandatory in the game, there's no longer an automatic or manual option, fortunately performing a drifting is vey easy unlike Mario kart wii and more responsive, master it to perform the super mini turbo requires a little practice but nothing hard or out of place, while it's possible to play the game without drifting is a game breaker if you decide to not, since all the CPU by default do it, and most of the players also do it because is to simple to execute, so don’t be surprised if you lose most of the time because you are not drifting. So at this point it sounds that Mario Kart 8 is a game that involves pure skill, well yes but also involves luck in the form of items the series had since the beginning you know throwing shells at opponents, using mushrooms to boost, that kind of stuff, unfortunately the very items is the downfall of Mario Kart 8, making it a game more about luck than skill. It's true that in Mario Kart luck comes to place but in past MK games skill was a more important factor sure you can be in 10th place and get cool items like the golden mushroom and bullet bills, but no matter how good the items were they meant little if the guy at 1st place was good at driving, and Mario kart 8 is the complete opposite for the most part, is more about the items you get than how good you are at driving. Let me go more in depth in Past Mario Kart Games, Like Mario Kart Wii for instance there was always called "item priority" this means that the lower you are in the place list you'll get better offensive items like a star, 3 red shells, a lighting, etc. and the higher you were you'll get basic offensive items and more defensive items, like a single red shell, bananas, green shells etc. So it worked well giving the guy in 12th place an edge to pass the opponents while giving the guy in fist place basic items to "shield" him/herself from the rest. In Mario Kart 8 that is no more, Item priority now is random, except from the guy in first place, so now you van get stars in 3rd place, triple red shells in second, lightning in fourth and even a bullet bill in fifth place, but in 1st place is more common to get the new coin item that a defensive item like a green shell, the coins in the game act like a boost you can collect them in the track or by getting one at the item box, collect 10 of them and you'll gain a little speed boost, the problem is that collecting 10 coins is way to easy and most of the time in 1st place you'll stock up real quick, not to mention that the coin item still appears even if you are max out, this means that the game somehow has the 1st place items prioritized by making coins more common that actual items, so this means that if you manage to get to 1st place there's barley any way to defend yourself from items. So that just throw over the window the whole skill add-ons like customization and drifting, sure there's some skill involved but now the guy that gets the better items wins this is way more notorious if you play online. So follow my strategy, don't ever try to be on first place the whole race always try to be in 3rd or lower that way you'll get all the cool items while the lead player can barely do anything to protect him/herself and when the final lap comes then try to lead the race at the half of the track, is more likely that you'll win this way than by trying to speed up all the time. Also there's no battle mode, well it is but is way to broken, the battles are without a radar in the main tracks, so yeah no battle arenas just tracks, is very uncomfortable to play, you'll spend 99% of the time trying to look for the other players and is just not fun at all. Mario Kart 8 still of its flaws still a good, fun game and you can have a great time with it, but is way to far to be the best Mario kart game.… Expand
  89. yayoman
    Jun 27, 2014
    10
    This game is perfect as nintendo always do for playing with friends at the same room but this time it also have a great online multiplayer! so for me this game it's a 10 come on lan guy dude, lan partys are on the past!
  90. funkamonkey
    Jun 4, 2014
    9
    After selling my Wii U last year due to the lack of games, I always knew I would return for some Mario Kart action. This has been my favourite franchise and has always been a great series to play with friends.

    Mario Kart 8 is no different. It's brings fun back to your living room and with the solid, and free, online features, MK8 is the perfect progression of the series. The first    After selling my Wii U last year due to the lack of games, I always knew I would return for some Mario Kart action. This has been my favourite franchise and has always been a great series to play with friends.

    Mario Kart 8 is no different. It's brings fun back to your living room and with the solid, and free, online features, MK8 is the perfect progression of the series.

    The first thing that hits you is the HD graphics. From the load screen and replays to the reflections on the players helmets, Nintendo have gone all out to impress this time round.

    The gameplay is amazing fun and even better online. The customisations, although a tad limited, are a great addition to the home console version and the tracks are designed with love and attention.

    It's not perfect by any means. The reason it doesn't get a ten is because the single player seems to be a lot easier than previous games and the battle mode has been ruined but this game is all about multiplayer racing, both local and online.

    Get some mates together or fire up the online mode and this is where MK8 excels.

    If you love gaming or you just wanted a reason to buy a Wii U, this is it.    … Expand
  91. mattnotley2004
    Jun 15, 2014
    10
    Mario Kart with stunning HD graphics + full orchestrated music + new game mechanics (driving up walls, etc) = Awesomeness! For me, the only let down is the inability to see on screen positions without the use of the Gamepad. I'm hoping this gets patched in a future update.
  92. PanthersFanStev
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Beautiful, shiny, fast racing game is a good description. Awesome courses and very fun online play. Don't hate me here, but I cannot help but compare to MK Wii which was better IMO. Why was MK Wii better? Character roster, tracks and challenge to unlock karts and characters. At current pace I will have everything unlocked in a week, it took 2+ months of play on MK Wii which made itBeautiful, shiny, fast racing game is a good description. Awesome courses and very fun online play. Don't hate me here, but I cannot help but compare to MK Wii which was better IMO. Why was MK Wii better? Character roster, tracks and challenge to unlock karts and characters. At current pace I will have everything unlocked in a week, it took 2+ months of play on MK Wii which made it more fulfilling to me. Hoping there are some additional characters to unlock, I am a fan of Dry Bones Bowser, Funky Kong and others that were dropped for Koopalings. That said, this is a MUST BUY Wii U game that you would be crazy to pass up, especially with the free game offer.… Expand
  93. ransonshan
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    Being the 8th installment of a beloved franchise, I expected this game to do great. I was wrong, it did not do fantastic for my standards, IT SURPASSED ALL OF MY STANDARDS! This game was the reason I bought a Wii U like most people did and I don't regret one penny I spent on this title. The graphics are superb, one of the best looking Wii U titles on earth. You can see every detail onBeing the 8th installment of a beloved franchise, I expected this game to do great. I was wrong, it did not do fantastic for my standards, IT SURPASSED ALL OF MY STANDARDS! This game was the reason I bought a Wii U like most people did and I don't regret one penny I spent on this title. The graphics are superb, one of the best looking Wii U titles on earth. You can see every detail on every character and kart in the game as well as the wonderfully creative courses new to the series. The sound is a mix of classic, adrenaline-pumping, calm, jazzy, psychedelic, and fun soundtracks to go along with updated remixes of old stages. Playing split screen, once again, is a blast with friends and strangers alike. Being an Assassin's Creed multiplayer fan only, i had little expectation for this game's online multiplayer. How wrong I was, this is one of if not the most addicting multiplayer I have ever being happy to be apart of in the digital age of gaming. The lag is noticeably absent for the most part and never had i felt so comfortable playing with other players online thanks to this game's beginner-friendly community. If anytime you come across i player or players so far out of your league, there is nothing preventing you from limiting your options to lower level players in the new custom menu to get used to the game's controls and stages. The single player mode in this title has been flushed out more than any other game in the series thus far, making the 150cc AI much harder this time around for added competition as well as the new highlight system to give your single player experience better purpose than just to waste time. This game features an all-star cast of unforgettable Mario characters as well as lesser-known characters. Kart customization is back from Mario Kart Wii and I am glad to say that the kart customization is much more expansive and offers a large variety of control setups depending on your character, wheels, and glider. The anti-gravity featured in most stages gives off such a vibe that was absent from previous games, making the stages feel grand and epic simultaneously with its large array of gimmicks and visual spectacles. So after all of that you may think this is the absolute perfect Mario Kart ever made, I wish I could say that. The main beef many people have with this game (and many reasons there are more negative than mixed scores) is the lack of classic battle mode. By that I mean it ditched the arena concept of the original games and instead opted for the players to race ON THE RACE TRACKS to battle one another. I appreciate trying something new but this was not the way to go, this mode can drag on and most of the time players barely make contact with other racers. Fix this mode and all that remain are very minor nitpicks, like the meta-game first place player being safer in this game than ever before compared to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place players fearing for their lives. Overall, a phenomenal game with all the reason in the world to buy a Wii U.… Expand
  94. ericiidx
    May 31, 2014
    9
    So far, an incredible refresher on the pretty familiar Mario Kart formula. For the first time ever, kart handling finally feels like an organic thing! The graphics are just right, the artistic design is out of this world, and the environments are exploding with detail and personality. There's some pretty nice item balancing going on, especially since things can get nasty with 12So far, an incredible refresher on the pretty familiar Mario Kart formula. For the first time ever, kart handling finally feels like an organic thing! The graphics are just right, the artistic design is out of this world, and the environments are exploding with detail and personality. There's some pretty nice item balancing going on, especially since things can get nasty with 12 players. I've played every Mario Kart game (most of them thoroughly,) and this is shaping up to be the best one yet.

    My only complaints are negligible ones; for example, you are given the names of selectable tracks in a multiplayer session, but the names are removed when the random selection takes place. The new anti-grav element feels more like a gimmick than anything else, but it does subtly provide shortcut opportunities and more eye candy, without taking anything away from the core experience.    … Expand
  95. JohnWitten
    Sep 29, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Overall Premise: Improve the series in many ways imaginable and as of yet not thought of.

    Graphics and Sound: The visuals look excellent on the Wii U and are the best in the series so far. Sound is comprised of good track selection and audio accompaniment ambiance as well.

    Playability and Entertainment: The gameplay is even more fun thanks to new twists and turns, literally at times. The controls work well on the standard controller.

    Replay Value: Moderately High.

    Overall Score: 9.0/10.0    … Expand
  96. Randomman93
    Jun 8, 2014
    10
    Fantastic game! If you own a wii u, do yourself a favour and buy this game now. Or better yet if you don't have a wii u, this is a great reason to get one. Game got beautiful graphics, nice music, awesome tracks, and smooth online play (played quite a lot online, and haven't experienced any lag at all yet). In my opinion, this is the best mario kart game ever made. Items seems moreFantastic game! If you own a wii u, do yourself a favour and buy this game now. Or better yet if you don't have a wii u, this is a great reason to get one. Game got beautiful graphics, nice music, awesome tracks, and smooth online play (played quite a lot online, and haven't experienced any lag at all yet). In my opinion, this is the best mario kart game ever made. Items seems more balanced before (now its more about skill than luck), and there is finally a counter to the blue shell. Only thing i find disappointing is that they included unnecesarily many baby characters, and like gold peach for example.. Wth is that? Id much rather see diddy kong, boo, or how about cranky kong? Now that would be great. Apart from characters the game seems perfect to me. Don't get me wrong, some of the koopalings (new characters) are cool, but like i've said there are too many baby characters. Id swap baby daisy for diddy kong any day. I still think the game deserves a 10 of 10, so thats what it gets from me. Truly amazing game!… Expand
  97. jholden3249
    Jun 29, 2014
    10
    Mario Kart 8 is the pinnacle of gameplay-based entertainment. You'd have to be one, stiff-necked dude to NOT have fun with this game. Seriously, anyone who can't have fun with Mario Kart 8 is either a delusional fanboy or just outright hates video games. Now stop reading this review and go play Mario Kart 8!
  98. Aozz101x
    Jun 4, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 will be best game for years and years sure it needs a little improvements but not a bad game, Mario Kart 8 will be best game but yet be best as Mario Kart: Double Dash and Mario Kart Wii
  99. DannX
    Jun 29, 2014
    10
    Simplemente es divertido ... pero tiene una experiencia jugable que es de 10, bueno se tiene que aprender a jugar y también poder ser bueno que se estresen pero si sabes jugar .... Es de 10
  100. FreedomFighters
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    I don't have a big "intro paragraph" for this review, so let's just cut right to the chase: "Mario Kart 8" is fantastic, and in my opinion, it is the best game on the Wii U. Even as a hardcore fan of the "Super Smash Bros." series, I've gotta say "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U" is not the best game on the Wii U (it's a close second). That title goes to "Mario Kart 8," an absolutely gorgeous,I don't have a big "intro paragraph" for this review, so let's just cut right to the chase: "Mario Kart 8" is fantastic, and in my opinion, it is the best game on the Wii U. Even as a hardcore fan of the "Super Smash Bros." series, I've gotta say "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U" is not the best game on the Wii U (it's a close second). That title goes to "Mario Kart 8," an absolutely gorgeous, rip-roaring, fun-filled, exciting time on the Wii U. On top of being gorgeous and fun, the music is brilliant and the online is actually pretty excellent, even on a console like the Wii U that has an awful online infrastructure.
    Sure, the roster may have a few too many unnecessary additions, and the Battle Mode may not be as exciting as the previous adventures, but at the very end of the day, "Mario Kart 8" is the one Wii U game that you absolutely must own. Looking for that one Wii U game that's as close to being "perfect" as you can get? Here it is: "Mario Kart 8" is phenomenal.
    Final rating: 10 out of 10 "Fantastic"    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Wii U Game of 2014
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. GameCritics
    Sep 18, 2014
    80
    Mario Kart 8 is pretty great in many ways, but undoubtedly moreso with a collection of friends to play with, or when facing off against other players online.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Aug 25, 2014
    85
    No revolution here, but still it’s an absolute must-have for every Wii U owner. [08/2014, p.68]
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Jul 31, 2014
    95
    A beautiful and fun racing game, which uses the possibilities offered by its host platform to emphasize and renew the truly universal appeal of the series.
    Read full review
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